What Is Top Buttons | Commonly Asked Questions

We recognize that we are still a relatively new nonprofit with a unique mission. We love answering questions about our operations. See some commonly asked questions below and if we don’t answer a question you’ve been wondering about, please email us at info@topbuttons.org!

LEGAL and Financial

• When did Top Buttons get started? 12/12/12 


•  Are you a 501(c)3? Yes 


• How are you funded? We obtain funding by community members, grants, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events, and the revenue from our Boutique sales. 


• Why do you sell? We did not start Top Buttons to sell clothing, but it has been a great blessing to our organization and to women of all economic backgrounds in our community as they can both donate and shop while supporting our nonprofit mission.

• Why did you add new clothing in with the designer thrift? At times it is difficult to outfit a Wearing Confidence Program Recipient in thrift clothing alone.  When this is the case, young women are able to take new inventory for free to add to their wardrobe pieces.  Additionally, it allows us to offer more options for customers.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

• Are you a faith-based organization? Yes! We are a faith-based charitable and educational nonprofit organization. We believe that real change comes from the inside out through Jesus Christ and this message is incorporated throughout our program services.

• How do girls qualify to obtain your services? Organizations who serve at risk young women between the ages of 11-25 may enroll with us and receive our Wearing Confidence Program Services free of charge. 


• What type of services and education do you offer? Through our Wearing Confidence Program we provide faith-based, confidence building education and proper fitting attire to more than 300 young women in need each year. 
Click here to see everything we offer through our Wearing Confidence Program.

• How do you measure your impact? We measure our impact through evaluations administered to program recipients and also through feedback obtained from the directors of our enrolled organizations. Also we measure impact through the demand for our services, the number of young women who receive our services, the repeat visits we have through mentorship and life skills training opportunities, and the amount of program recipients who obtain jobs after completing our program.

• What organizations are enrolled with Top Buttons? The Department of Corrections, PACE Center for Girls, Girls Inc., Heartland for Children, The FL Baptist Children’s Home, One More Child, Parker Street Ministries, West Area Adult School, East Area Adult School, Young Lives, Teen Challenge, Boys and Girls Clubs of Lakeland and Mulberry, Echo Ministries, Christ Memorial Youth and many more. 


 THE SHOP AND CLOTHING DONATIONS

• Are you consignment? Where do you get your clothes? We are not a consignment store. We are an educational and charitable nonprofit with a women’s clothing boutique. We offer NEW AND THRIFT clothing. Individuals in our local community donate thrift clothing to us and a donation receipt is given upon request for tax purposes. 


• How much clothing is given away and how much is sold? Approximately 50% is given away through our program services and 50% is sold. It is important to know that the young women we serve, who obtain free clothing, come back in and bring their families to shop with us. Women from all economic backgrounds come shop with us because we offer new clothing and beautiful designer thrift clothing options for them at inexpensive prices.

• What type of clothing donations are you looking for? We accept clothing and accessories from pre-teen to adult, maternity and plus-size for women only.

• How can I donate clothes? You can bring in clothing and accessories any time we are open for public shopping at either one of our boutique locations.  They do not have to be on hangers nor do they have to be specific brands.  We only ask that the items be clean with no holes or stains. Click here to see our boutique locations and hours of operation.

The Perfect Everyday Summer Look

The best summertime outfits are the ones that are quick and easy to put together and throw on for those last-minute plans. We think Annie illustrates this idea perfectly, and oh-so-adorably.

We love pretty summer looks that are low-maintenance. Hair is probably best when kept as natural as possible since heat usually equals frizz! Minimal makeup is also a good idea. This season is the best time of the entire year to let your natural beauty shine and let those sun freckles make their grand appearance. Really all you need is a little powder and a few swipes of waterproof mascara.

We are all about fun accessories here at Top Buttons and love the idea of a few stackable bracelets to subtly dress up an outfit. Right now, we are obsessed with Cotton On's foundation bracelets. They're only $1-$2, which makes stacking them affordable, and best of all, 100% of the proceeds get donated to Cotton On's charity.

Muscle tees add a little edge to a look. Stay comfy and covered by throwing on a bandeau top when choosing a top with sides that dip slightly.

The casual take on denim that is super hot right now is a cute cuff at the bottom. Make sure your jeans are skinny enough so that the cuff is hugging the leg! Converse (Annie is rocking white Chuck Taylors) is a perfect comfortable throw-on sneaker that is fun and timeless.

To purchase items similar to Annie's, check out the links below:

Muscle tank / Bandeau / Jeans / Shoes / Bracelets

Photography by: Elisabeth Huijskens

With Beauty, Brains, and a Handsome Man: Christina Gard Tells All

If you aren't in the mood for some mushy, gushy, faith-based romance, READ ON ANYWAY!  We find this young lady to be refreshing and strong in a way that all women can benefit from.  We live in a world were girls get major media attention for being controversial, provocative, and down right disrespectful. (Clearing throat… cough… Huffington Post)  At Top Buttons, our philosophy is to promote those who are trying to do right and love others as they also love themselves. We feel you will enjoy hearing many of the fun details which make this girl tick.  Grab a cup of coffee and have a seat in a comfy chair.  This is a must read for some Valentine's Inspiration. - Intro by Sarah Powers Christina Gard -- currently a professor in the Psych department at SEU -- is the perfect example of what it means to have beauty AND brains. Mrs. Gard is a great role model to girls globally because she is living proof that when you pursue your dreams and live for God, He'll take care of the rest -- including getting you the right man. From gutting fish, to winning Miss Alaska, to being a pastor, professor, and so much more, Christina Gard has done it all.

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So Christina, tell us a little about yourself -- about your backstory and any formative experiences along the way. I was born and raised in Alaska. My Dad was a pastor, and summer camp was the highlight of every year. Every summer we spent a few weeks at Little Beaver Lake kids camp in Alaska. That’s where I found a lot of really consistent friends and really fell in love and found the relationship I had with Jesus.

What are some significant qualities/ facts about growing up in Alaska that affected your perception on life?

• I spent Friday nights at home with my family. My parents would give us a topic, and we would have debates.
• We did a lot of hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, but it was all free.  That is the life we lived in Alaska.
• When I was 5, I flew from Alaska to NJ. It opened up the world to me. I saw a mall and got to see a movie. It was a big contrast from having no running water.
• I was homeschooled for much of my upbringing, and my two sisters were my best friends.
• I had the opportunity to do some private school, but I knew how to cut filet salmon before I ever learned how to put on make-up.
• We would go to the food bank for food, but my parents always saved, saved, saved for travel experiences. My mom was concerned about me knowing what was in the outside world.
• I was the youngest bank teller hired at the National Bank of Alaska, which really taught me a lot and forced me to grow up.

What was your college experience like? I visited Northwest and saw for the first time college students having fun and it didn’t involve drugs or alcohol and so I decided to go there. I just loved it, I started debate and had great friends. I ended up transferring a lot. When I moved to England, I fell in love with tea and my view of the world was changed. I was kind of the lone Christian. England was pretty spiritually dead in my opinion. People questioned everything. I studied theology and was taught that the Bible was a book. I realized my faith was not my parents. I had to develop & cultivate a relationship with the Lord on my own.

I transferred again and I went to AU and I fell in love with the city of DC.

I also spent a summer in Cambodia. That really showed me the power of missions and at that point I decided I would eventually make missions a part of my life.

For my last semester of undergrad, I went back to Northwest.

You moved around a lot! When did Andrew come into the picture? Five weeks before graduation, I met Andrew. At this point, I was really strong and really independent.  My father had always told me, “You will marry the one man that isn’t intimidated by you,” and on our first date Andrew said, “You don’t intimidate me.” It freaked me out. When I got home, I literally went right into my room and called my dad and told him.

Since you come from a close family, what was it like when you started dating Andrew? We dated all the way through graduation, which is when my family met him. Everyone flew in because I was speaking at the commencement. I handed Andrew an itinerary for the weekend, and he kept up. That weekend, he surprised me with Yankee tickets. I realized at that moment that he was a true leader. He knew what I needed even when I didn’t.

[blockquote]He’s the first man I ever dated. I dated a lot of boys, but he was the first man.[/blockquote]

Did Andrew pursue you? How did he treat you while you were dating? First date: He called me and asked me out. I remember how strong, confident, and sincere he was on the phone.

[blockquote]We went to Starbucks. I asked him about his relationship with God. A Starbucks date can be 5 minutes or 5 hours; ours was 5 hours.[/blockquote]

Day After First Date: Generally, the rule was not to call the next day. He called me that morning. This was when cell-phones first came out and I had a voice mail of him asking me to hang out again….And we hung out every day.

Second date: He took me to Coldstone and then opened the basketball gym for me and we played HORSE. While we were at Coldstone I quizzed him about the world. I was blown away at how smart he was.

During the relationship: He didn’t kiss me and there was no physical interaction until after we were engaged.

[blockquote]I’m the 4th generation in a line of pastors and I never met someone who loved God like Andrew did.[/blockquote]

Since you guys started dating so close to graduation, what happened after you graduated? We were together for 2 months, and then I moved back to Alaska and it was long distance from there. We were dating and engaged for 17 months total.

What did you do in the meantime? At that point my options were to apply for the Peace Corps, work with White Siberian tigers, travel with Holland America cruise lines, or compete for Miss America. I graduated in May 2004 and it was in June that I won Miss Alaska 2004.

How did competing and winning Miss Alaska affect your self-image? I had always struggled with insecurity. The thing I appreciated about the experience was how confident the women were. Every single one of them were pursuing a degree. Miss America is a Scholarship Organization, not just a pageant.

[blockquote]I remember walking in and looking around the room and thinking “Wow. Women can do anything.”[/blockquote]

For me, it helped pay my way through college and helped me develop confidence in a new way. Differences were celebrated. Everyone was beautiful in their own way. I didn’t have to look like Barbie. I just had to look like me.

So what happened with you and Andrew after winning Miss Alaska? Well, I love that he was with me before I made Miss Alaska. I remember, I called him and told him I didn’t win and he said “I don’t believe you.” 

When did you get married? On June 24, 2005 we got married in Jamaica. We had a destination wedding. I flew from Alaska to Miami and Andrew flew from Seattle to Miami and then we flew to Jamaica together. So hugging him in the airport was awkward having been apart for awhile. We met up with our families in Jamaica. We went kayaking & hiking and it was so much fun. Then, we honeymooned  there for the next couple weeks.

  

After being apart for so long, how was married life? When we got to our new home, he had me close my eyes and he picked me up and he carried me across the threshold of our new town home in DC. We didn’t have a dinner table. We ate our first meal sitting on the dining room floor. I realized no matter where I was or what I was doing, if I had him, I would be okay.

He was a pastor and I was working as a Crisis Intervention Specialist. I was on call 24-7. My clients had to get better or they were going to jail. After a while, he felt like we were suppose to move to Seattle and I remember resisting it. We moved from there to Puyallup, Washington. I remember I saying, “Life will never be better than it was in DC.” I even said the same thing when I moved from Washington to Florida, and now I think the same thing.

Being that you're very accomplished and goal-oriented, what have been all your different jobs throughout the years? 1. At, 12 years old, my first job at Espresso Moes as a barista. 2. Sandwich shop 3. Bank Teller for National Bank of Alaska 4. Legal Clerk for Trudell Bowen Lingenbrink Law Firm 5. Nanny for Mr. Lingenbrink (on weekends) 6. Department of Health as a Legislative Analyst 7. Cannery on the slime line gutting fish 8. Crisis Intervention Specialist for Institute … 9. Childrens pastor at Puyallup Foursquare Church 10. Miss Alaska with the Miss America organization 11. Professor –Northwest University 12. Children/ Family Therapist at Good Samaritan Behavioral Health 13. Director of Student Mentoring in Student Development at SEU 14. Professor 15. (Currently training to be a fitness instructor at LA Fitness, just for fun.)

What qualities does Andrew have that you think are really important to look for in a man? Love for Jesus;  Intellect; Respect for others; Passion; Integrity and character above all; Respect for me and how he handled me when no one else was around; He didn’t put me in compromising situations; Common interests; Attraction; Such a great sense of humor.

What are the top 3 things you two value in your marriage? 1. Our non-negotable is time with one another; nothing gets scheduled without us consulting the other. That requires honest communication. 2. Fun. -- We love having fun together. We love laughing. 3. Private time with the Lord and with one another. Praying together. Theres nothing more incredible than hearing what Andrew asks God for, for me. It’s just amazing.

What's the key to having an interesting relationship? In order to have an interesting marriage. You have to be interesting people. We both love time together, but we both love our time apart. Andrew loves golf. I love Pilates. We love having things we’re pursuing on our own. He loves that I don’t stop at any point in life.

What is one piece of advice you would give to young girls? (Something that you know now but you wish you knew then.) Put God above all else. Enjoy your time with your family first. You’ll never get those moments back with your parents and siblings when its just you guys. Enjoy that, treasure that. I don’t regret spending Friday nights with my family. Worry little about who likes you. More than likely you are not going to marry your 8^th grade love.

Since Valentine's Day is coming up, how do you keep your marriage alive, and do you have Valentines Day plans? We always go out. Our favorite spot is the Melting Pot. We’re more into experiences than gifts. We’ve gone to Paris & rome, Mexico, Jamaica, Disney world. We love quality time, with a great meal and great conversation. We’re also really big on cards. We always give each other handwritten deep thoughtful notes. That’s really important to us.

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Deep breath. Process.  Maybe your pics won't look as adorable as these two, but you can rest assured that God will give you the desires of your heart too as they line up with His will!

There you have it: life behind the scenes with Christina Gard -- a woman who even faced some very challenging life experiences. (Which, believe it or not, were not mentioned in our long but super fun interview with Christina.)  She ultimately pursued God and her dreams, and along the way God gave her a great love relationship that enables her to continue doing that.  She supports him, he supports her, they support each other.

#CoupleCrush #GoodGirlsDeserveProps

If you haven't had enough, check out last year's #couplecrush

Photo credit: Rachel Tackett

Maddy and Her Perfectly Polished Style

Maddy Lynott is currently a college Freshman. Her sense of style is just one of the many attributes that makes her so charismatic! Aside from dressing cute and original, Maddy dedicates much of her time to ministry opportunities by volunteering with children at a local community and even going on global missions trips! In fact, Tiffany (from our recent post Trends with Tiffany: A Classy and Sweet Style) and Maddy are both going to Zambia this summer! Maddy's love for God and love for people shines throughout everything she does.

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Maddy's first look in the city was practically pulled right off Pinterest because it was so coordinated and put together.

She gave Top Buttons the scoop on where she bought all the items she's wearing, so we've done the web-hunting for you and have found similar essential pieces to accomplish a look like Maddy's!

Chiffon Blouse  | Maroon Skinny Jeans | Tan Riding Boots | Bangle Watch | Gold Belt

[blockquote]I love items from Target because they are like a copycat of J.Crew (but a lot cheaper), which is where I get a lot of my style inspiration from.[/blockquote]

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Maddy received this dress as a gift from a friend who originally purchased it at a consignment boutique, which offers such a one-of-a-kind and sentimental touch to this outfit.

[blockquote]The dress can easily be transformed into something casual or fancy with the adding of accessories and change of shoes. I love the hippie look of the lace and sleeves.[/blockquote]

To accomplish a similar look, here's some similar items you can purchase:

Dress | Leggings | Tan Riding Boots

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(From left to right: Tiffany Hammer, Macey Rikard, Betsie Amendola, and Maddy Lynott)

THE SWIMSUIT TOPIC

The evolution of the swimsuit has been drastic over the last 50 years. While trends usually come full circle and it is apparent that some bathing suit styles have returned to the fore front from years past, the itsy bitsy bikini is going no where.  Who doesn't feel the most comfortable in their underwear?  Well, at home when no one is looking.  But where is the line on bathing suits?  As the more popular trends continue to lean towards skimpy rather than full coverage, it leaves many wondering where the line will be drawn, if at all? Many young females look forward to purchasing and wearing the  hottest swimwear trends, but as with all clothing trends, popular doesn't always mean appropriate.

There are many different styles available, but it is important to find the style that fits your body best and one that doesn't expose everything.  Talking about modesty in general is controversial, let alone the subject of swimwear.  In Florida, ladies can practically live in a swimsuit year round! Some might wonder, if there should be a standard at the beach.  Many churches and even some civic organizations believe so.  Standards are set for the benefit of the group and the benefit of the individual (but in that order).  It makes sense to ask  young men and women, attending a group function together at the beach,  to consider the fun to be had by the whole group free of distractions rather than placing priority on the  individual desires which often leads to expression with no boundaries.  So can a young woman "be herself" and still wear something with more coverage than the typical two piece bikini options?

If stores supplied, and celebs promoted only 1 piece swimsuits, would women go out and sew their own two piece bathing suits anyway?  When wearing a swimsuit, should consideration be given to others?   Should modesty apply to swimsuits, or do sand and water negate the concept? Should current trends dictate our fashion sense?  If so, how far will we go allowing the fashion industry to determine our standards?

The options for adorable swimsuits are out there.  Since there is so much encouragement for young women to where the super revealing swimsuits, why not balance it out with an alternative?!

Sarah Powers, our Director, grew up out on the water.  Her grandparents owned and operated a water ski school for decades and she competed in water sports.  It made sense to talk to her about this topic since she has such a passion to see young women dress with their own personal style while not negating their personal values.  "I care more about the functionality of a swimsuit than the cuteness factor, but that is because I was always training for a competition.  Wearing a bikini might result in some unintended exposure."  She laughed as she described some embarrassing moments that occurred from some bad spills while throwing big tricks. "The bottom line is that our belief system should affect our choice of clothing at school, church, work, and the beach. The first thing that people notice about us is most often not what we say or do, but what we wear.  If we say we want to honor God with our life, that should be reflected accordingly.  As a Christian, our goal in life should not be to get attention from revealing clothes and then to post it on instagram to get more attention."  The beach is the perfect opportunity to be set apart and to consider the impression we are giving off to others.  I say... wear the look you want, but within reason."  She went on to share how the impact of social media has fueled the growth of immodest trends as people continue to post every moment, especially "beachy" ones, with the public.

Both Rebekah, the Top Buttons's Stylist, and Sarah suggested the tankini as a reasonable choice for young women and stated that one pieces are very flattering on most all body types.

It's also interesting to note that most young females, struggle with their changing bodies. Some of the flaws that they see include, small bust line, large bust line, large hips, no curves, large thighs. According to Seventeen.com, young women who see these flaws were 87% more confident when wearing a one piece bathing suit, or one that covered their mid-section.

So with that being said, Be on the lookout for future posts that include where to find some fashionable one pieces, tankinis, and cover ups!

 

MODEST TIPS FROM THE TALL GIRL

With longer legs come greater challenges to dress modestly, especially with the current trends.  The goal is not to set a standard by which all judgements on modesty should be made, but rather offer a perspective and some suggestions to consider when shopping with modesty in mind from one tall girl to another.  Miss Amelia with her breathtaking smile and gorgeous long blonde hair,  is 5 feet 9 inches tall. She is a full head taller than most of her peers.

The issue of finding dresses and shorts that reach her mid thigh has been a challenge for her for many years.  If a person is petite or average in height, they might not realize just how difficult it is to find stores and styles that offer more conservative options for taller girls. Tall girls living in the southern states might have even more trouble.  With skimpy summer trends and squelching heat comes the battle of flesh versus staying true to values.

"It is possible, if you are willing to work at it," says the resident tall girl, Miss Amelia. She was all smiles as she shared her challenges and the tricks that she has learned to dress with dignity, despite the push of the culture to do the opposite.

 When asked which stores she has the best luck finding clothes that fit her tall frame and body type, she said, "I get most of my shorts from J Crew, and occasionally Loft.  The 'teenager stores' don't make an alternative for taller girls like me. Their options generally consist of short and shorter. Both J Crew and Loft make it so easy to wear longer shorts, because they have all the same patterns but offer them in a 3, 5, or 8-inch length."  The petite young woman could more easily find shorts that reach mid thigh, while someone with Amelia's height might have to wear at least a 5 or 8 inch inseam to even get close to mid thigh.  Then there are the "bermudas."  Not everyone is fond of this knee length style.  They are, however, a super safe option. Some might argue that they don't look fantastic on their body type.  This thought process is likely encouraged by the current trends to wear shorts that barely cover one's bottom.  When all the fashion magazines show styles and celebrities wearing super short shorts, it seems natural that many would want to do the same.  But that doesn't mean that they should!

Taller girls may also be limited in the current trends they can wear modestly.  Responding to this idea, Amelia said that a trend she wished she could pull off is the high waisted shorts.  "They look so cute on petite girls with a tucked in shirt and the right accessories.  But when I wear them it seems like all you see are my mile long legs!  Unfortunately that's one trend I've had to give up on."  She also admitted that she doesn't always wear the longer shorts, but that she tries her best to balance it out by wearing a looser fitted shirt that undeniably provides full coverage on top to balance the outfit out.

Here are some trends that Amelia likes to wear and she added some tips to make the trend more modest for the tall girl.

The Tunic is adorable to wear to outdoor lunches and beachy events, but she recommends wearing thicker leggings, jeggings, or even comfy skinny jeans underneath.  Otherwise, if you bend over at all, everything will be exposed.

The patterned shirt dress is classy.  And this particular dress does hit mid thigh on Amelia, but she still feels more comfortable in it (especially in this time of year) with a pair of tights and tall boots.  It must be added that with this young lady, an outfit isn't complete without the right accessories!

With the longer length of this dress hitting just above her knee, she  feels comfortable wearing the wedges to make it dressier.  Often times a shorter dress paired with high heeled shoes make the dress appear even shorter.  This is something for the tall girl to keep in mind when trying to dress more modestly.

 So what can keep a tall girl motivated when the modest fashion odds are stacked up against her?  Good role models? A scripture verse?  Accountability?  Any and all of these ideas would be valid and helpful.  Amelia comes from a large family.  She has 5 brothers, and 17 cousins.  There are many little eyes looking up to her which keeps her in check.  "Since my family is pretty close I have my brothers that constantly monitor my outfits. They make their opinions pretty vocal and will let me know if they think I’m wearing something too short, even when I don't ask for their opinion." In addition to sharing about her young family members, She said that her Mother has been a great example and has encouraged her along the way. "My mom is an influence that helps me keep my standards high. Since she is also tall and has shown me great alternatives while being fashionable. I also stay motivated knowing that I don’t dress to impress people on earth, but want to be a representation of Christ through the way I look and act," she said.

It is safe to conclude that it does take more effort to find decent clothing for the taller young lady, but like Amelia says, "don’t give in to what everyone else says is 'normal.'  "I know first hand that being tall and modest is a hard combination, but it builds character and makes your outfits worth the extra effort. I have one last tip when buying shorts or dresses that are a little shorter," She continued. "Try buying a size up from what you would normally wear. There is no need to feel self conscious about the size of your clothing. When you wear bigger clothes it not only makes you look slimmer, but also draws the attention away from your legs. This adds a little length and width, instead of your clothes seeming tight and short."

Thank you, Amelia!

More Tips from the Tall Girl can be expected pre-Summer!

***We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Beth Carter!  She has donated her professional photography services to support our cause for many photo shoots.  We are thankful for her, and look forward to working with her more in the future!***

TWO TEENS WHO SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE

At a young age, high school students Elizabeth and Delaney have decided to put their talent and passion for capturing moments on film to use for a greater purpose.

We've introduced you to Delaney before, but were excited to share a little more about her the characteristics that make this young woman so interesting. She is a high-energy junior in high school that has been captivated by film-making since the first grade. "I am a storyteller, Delaney confessed." She enjoys making stories come alive on screen, to entertain and educated others.

As far back as she can remember, she has been involved in video production. Delaney is a student at a performing arts school where she studies cinematography and video production. With this training she has gained skills in screenwriting, production, and editing, which she says has made her a well-rounded student.

“When thinking about my future, I’m not sure what I want to do. I know I love film, but I’m not sure if it’s going to be my career.” Delaney is a determined young lady, and with that focus and determination comes interests in many other things, which she says makes her future career decisions difficult. “No matter what I end up doing, the skills I’ve acquired thus far will translate into any career,” shared Delaney.

The lack of boundaries in the way women dress is often an issue that arises while working in the filmmaking, confessed Delaney. “But it's all about leadership. You have to work with so many different people in order to accomplish the vision for the film. I see this as an opportunity allow my actions to speak louder than my words. Modesty has a lot to do with respect for myself, but more so for my God.” Delaney shares that she believes that modesty is more than what you wear. It is an attitude of modesty and humility that is imperative in working with people, especially in the area of film and media.

She is prepared for her future as either a creator or connoisseur of film and will carry on her ideals to encourage modesty in young women in whatever field she ends up in.

Elizabeth is new to our Top Buttons team and she has a similar passion as Delaney. But hers is for photography. At the age of twelve she became fascinated with picture taking after her father received a camera for his birthday, but neglected to use it. Elizabeth took her Dad's camera and capitalized on this opportunity to photograph everything she could find. "I had no formal training," shared Elizabeth, "I looked online and taught myself about composition, depth, varying angles and camera settings." Elizabeth started out taking photos of friends and family, and developed her skills for capturing the moment.

Her desire is to capture moments and faces that people might not notice with a natural eye. "I just feel like it's natural when I'm taking pictures."

When asked why she wanted to be involved with Top Buttons, Elizabeth shared about her family values that have been instilled in her from a young age. In her family, she and her sisters have always been encouraged to have reasonable, but distinctly different boundaries of dress than the typical cultural standards of the day. She describes her view on modesty in media by saying, "There is no filter; It's challenging and near impossible to find modesty in photography."

Elizabeth is still deciding her future goals and desires, but would like to see herself owning a photography business on the side while being a mom and a physical therapist. “I will always be taking pictures, shared Elizabeth.”

Delaney and Elizabeth have combined their passions into one common cause. In a culture that expresses themselves in a way that demands attention for a false sense of self-confidence, these young women see the bigger picture. “We are excited to be a part of Top Buttons, and to have this platform to influence young women in a positive way,” they shared. They agreed that they feel empowered to be an example to teen girls who read the blog, and allow them to see that modesty can be fashionable and attainable with a little extra effort.

Photography: Jennifer Duarte

Boston Beauty with a Skyline View

My name is Anastasia and I am from Boston, Massachusetts.  I love shopping, reading, meeting new people and being active! What is the craziest thing that I have ever done? Skydiving from an altitude of 14,000 feet! I received my undergraduate degree at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Attending college has opened up many doors and given me some amazing opportunities. In the summer of 2011, I was chosen to intern for the Department of Defense in Washington D.C. Going to work in the Pentagon everyday was definitely one of the most surreal experiences. I absolutely loved my college experience at Southeastern, which is why I decided to continue on in pursuit of my Masters in Business Administration there as well. I will graduate with my MBA in December of 2013.

My mother worked hard to instill in me an appreciation for modest clothing choices at a young age. Middle school was rough, and thinking back on my middle school experience, I can remember having a difficult time navigating through a desire to fit in with my peers and a genuine curiosity as to the different trends in fashion. While the desire to fit in began do dissipate during high school, it was replaced by an overpowering and increasing desire to truly discover and embrace my own uniqueness and independence.

Looking back on both of my middle school and high school experiences, I can offer two pieces of advice to anyone curious about how to make it through the complicated social politics of middle school and the increasing desire to gain independence during high school:

Tip #1: Your clothes will never make people like you. It is the way that you treat people which will truly shape how others see you and who you will one day become.

Tip #2: In life, it is not about “fitting in.” It is about standing out. And what will truly separate you from everyone else will be your courage to do what is right, determination to make your dreams a reality, and standing firm in your values and beliefs.

It is important to understand that modesty is not only evident in the clothes that we wear, but also in each decision that we make. I mean, that is what life comes down to: a series of decisions. We all mess up.  It is not about being perfect.  It is about learning from our mistakes and the mistakes of others. My boss always tells me “Try. Fail. Learn.” It is that simple.

Being a part of Top Buttons has been an amazing opportunity, and without a doubt one of the best decisions that I have ever made. Let Top Buttons truly be a resource for both fashion and inspiration. Ask questions. Do not just succumb to the definition society assigns you.

Stand out and soar!

Love, Anastasia

My beanie in the photo was made by a friend of mine! Email her if you would like to order for just $12.00! Merutledge_msw@yahoo.com

Photos by: Taylor Flumerfelt